Early History

   The Harbour House Museum, located at 17 North Fourth Street is estimated to have been built in 1900, as tax records showed a marked increase in property value that year. The house was designed in the “steamboat” style of architecture with wrap-around twin porches and constructed of cement blocks.  Fred Floodstrand, a local master mason and bricklayer, built the house.  The Paint River valley can be seen from the east side of the house.

The Harbour Family

      John Harbour, an Irish born Catholic, was the family patriarch.  He was an enterprising man who owned and operated a boarding house on Superior Avenue, a saloon, a farm and several other businesses dating back to the 1890s.  He also held many positions of trust in the city and township.  He died in January 1913 at age 61.  Ellen (O’Connor) Harbour was born in 1857 and died in 1930 at the age of 73.  After  her husband’s death, she took in borders to help supplement her income.

   The Harbours had five children, one son—James, and four daughters—Mary Ellen “Minno,” Julia Maude “Maude,” Belva and Lucetta.

   James died of consumption in 1906 at age 33.  He left behind his wife and a young daughter, Mildred.  Mildred lived with the elder Harbours until her death from tuberculosis in July 1913 at age 12.

   Minno was born in 1874.  Early on she worked as a secretarial aide to local attorney, Michael Moriarty.  She later married and moved away.  She returned to Crystal Falls, and the family home as a widow in 1956.  She died in 1971 at age 97.

   Maude, born in 1882, became a teacher.  She married Timothy Murphy and the couple lived in the Harbour home where they raised three children—Jack, Nella Maude and Robert “Tim.”

   Belva married Marcus Schaaf and had twins—Marcus and Marjorie “Miv.”  Miv became a free-lance writer and often writer about her fond memories of Crystal Falls and her family. 

   Lucetta was born in 1887 and attended Eastern Michigan University and Lansing Business College.  She served as Secretary to the Detroit Board of Education. She retired in 1949 and returned to Crystal Falls and the family home. She died in 1964 at age 76.

 A Home for Many Families

   The Harbour House would eventually be occupied by a number of local families in-cluding the George Hrokins, Ray Wests, Pembertons and Murrays.  The First National Bank of Crystal Falls assumed ownership and, in 1982, Mr. Howard Koob purchased the home for the Crystal Falls Museum Society for $10,000.

A Heritage Center is Born

    The Harbour House Museum has undergone extensive renovation and exhibit development with the help of volunteer labor, monetary and material donations.

   The first floor has been restored to a turn of the century setting, a kitchen, dining room, parlor and library are located here.  The library houses many reference materials and Visitors are welcome to do research in our library that includes:

Ø      The Diamond Drill Newspaper – weekly paper from 1887 – 1997.  We also have this on micro film but we do not have a printer, but we can make copies from the actual newspaper.

Ø      Crystal View Newspaper  1998-2000

Ø      Burial Records from The Evergreen Memorial Cemetery Crystal Falls 1900 – 2004

Ø      French Connection – 5 volumes compiled by David DeRoche and Wayne Ohlsson that is a genealogical study of French Canadians in the area

Ø      Obituary files

Ø      The Northern Peninsula of Michigan and its People published in 1911 Vol. 1 and II

Ø      Superior Heartland – a Backwoods History by C. Fred Rydholm. Vol. I & II

Ø      Forest Park School Annuals – Trojan 1956-60

Ø      Crystalite school annual 1947-49, 51, 55

Ø      Centennial Souvenir Book of Crystal Falls = 1880 – 1980

Ø      In This Life – a collection of stories compiled by Forest Park Freshmen and Junior English classes of 1992 – 3

Ø      A Study of Ethnic Groups – settlers in the Crystal Falls area

Ø      Our City’s Story – written by students from Forest Park

Ø      In Finnish - Michigan Suomalaisten Historia by Armas K.E. Holmio

§     Kirkkollinen Kalenteri (many volumes of the Church Calendar)

§     And volumes of Kansan-valistsusseuran Kalenteri

Ø      Files of Photos – people and places in Crystal Falls

Ø      Composite picutres of many of the graduating classes from Forest Park High School.  (these are on display during the summer months for the class reunions)

Ø      Other miscellaneous books

and staff is available to provide assistance.   There is a nominal charge for photo copies. 

 The second floor has six exhibit rooms: 

1. The Mining and Logging Room contains artifacts and pictures of two industries that helped create Crystal Falls.
2. The Women’s Room features an open steamer trunk, a display of vintage clothing and accessories, religious items and gadgets and other conveniences used in the home at the turn of the century.
3. The Trophy/Sports Room showcases photos and trophies from school and community events.
4. The Veteran’s Room features artifacts, photos and items from the Civil War through the Gulf War. Of particular interest are the scrapbooks compiled by local residents during World War II.
5. The Children’s Antique Toy Room is a delightful experience for young and old. Included are a miniature carousel, toys and dolls
6. The Ojibwe Indian Room is a tribute to the many generations of Indian people who lived in the area.  This room is dedicated to the memory of Charlotte Bennet Eckerberg, mother of the late Julia Nyholm, a local resident.  The exhibit includes items from the personal collection of Dr. Earl R. Nyholm, Mrs. Eckerberg’s grandson.

The Harbor House Museum is open from the first Tuesday in June through the last Saturday in August.  Guided tours are available 10:00 a.m.—2:00 p.m., Tuesday—Saturday or by special appointment.

      There is a modest admission fee to tour the Museum. Donations and memorials are accepted.

Thank you to the folks for their help in 2008:

In 2008 the Harbour House’s front Victorian Gardens were completed for the Groeneveld reception on June 20. Board Members removed the sod in the front of the Museum to start the planting process.  They removed two trailer loads of sod that went to the log Pioneer Church in Mansfield and the Heritage Trail.

Thanks to Dennis Williams who donated two truckloads of top soil.  Paul Dalpra and Arlene Dalpra added their donated bags of composted manure and milorganite to prepare the planting beds.  They also donated two of the beautiful hanging planters and two large containers.

            Jan Lemke of JaMi’s Country Living provided some of the plants as well as donating others.

Susie Schwedler donated two globe thistles from her yard that Jerry Groop and Karen Groop dug up to transfer to the Harbour House front.  Jerry and Karen also got a truckload of mulch from the old airport to mulch the plants.

Certified Master Gardeners Kathy Coppock, Arlene Dalpra and Karen Groop from Glacial Gardeners Garden Club in Florence did the planting.

Fleurette Saari, President of the Glacial Gardeners donated 4 foxgloves that she found at Wal-Mart.

Jackie Rowan, Harbour House Board President sprayed Liquid Fence on the plants when the project was completed.

This completed the first phase of the Victorian Gardens at the Harbour House Museum.

Thanks to the many hands that have made the front of the Harbour House beautiful for the season.  Drop by to see the plants in bloom and visit the Museum at the same time.

Forest Park fourth graders were given an opportunity to learn how to properly handle historic photos and other materials at a workshop held at the school.    

Youngsters from Alice Clement and Maxine Hendry’s fourth grade toured the First National Band of Crystal Falls and interviewed Bob Flood [L] (Board Member), Mike Ferguson (CEO) [R] and Fran Green (Teller Supervisor) in April.

Forest Park fifth graders interviewed area veterans and ladies auxiliary members about “How and Why We Celebrate Memorial Day in Crystal Falls (May).

Hooray, the railings on the outside porch were finished, thanks to Don Connors and Lion’s Club volunteers and Place Manufacturing for all their time and effort.

The July exhibit featured Crystal Falls/Forest Park School Days.  Graduation photo composites, memorabilia and videos of the school interview projects were included.  The Museum received a grant from the Forest Park Youth Advisory Council which helped off-set the costs of conducting the project, including restoration of 16 graduation composites and development of a composite for the Class of 1968.  Helen Ross donated a check to Harbour House Museum President, Jackie Rowan from the Class of 1948

In August, the Museum was part of the Fungus Festival celebration and hosted the graduation photo composites display.  Ten people participated in the Mushroom Cook off and after-judging samples were made available to the public

In September, the Museum hosted its annual pie social and chili fest.

And, before closing its doors for the winter, Board members gave over 75 Forest Park youngsters an opportunity to tour the Museum. 

With the regular Museum schedule and so many extra activities, it is wonderful to have so many willing hands to help out.  If you made a pie, helped with a tour, stopped by to chat or lent a hand in any way, we want you to know how very much we appreciate your donation.  You have helped us on our mission to keep alive the history of our area.